Most of the time when you need to catch someone’s attention, you can just call their name out to them or perhaps cough loudly to make them look at you. However, when you are trying to catch the attention of someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing, your usual attention-grabbing methods can be ineffective since they communicate differently than you do.
Let’s talk about effective methods to get a Deaf person’s attention and break down the barriers that keep us from communicating together.
Understanding Challenges in Gaining Attention
It can be difficult to catch the attention of someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing since many of us are used to using and listening for audio cues to communicate with each other. They can also miss out on important verbal communication such as announcements or instructions. This can lead to safety concerns since emergency signals such as fire alarms or police sirens can easily be missed by members of the Deaf community if there is not a noticeable visual marker within their field of vision.
Since members of the Deaf community are experts at nonverbal communication, they are great at reading body language and will quickly pick up on visual signals, like someone making eye contact with them. However, things can get especially hectic when in a group setting since crowded environments can make it difficult for Deaf individuals to follow along with a group conversation. This can make it difficult for them to figure out when someone is trying to communicate with them.
This can often lead to Deaf or hard of hearing people becoming socially isolated due to the difficulty of simple social interactions caused by communication barriers.
Related: Embracing Deaf Culture: A Journey Into Sign Language
Visual Alerts and Vibrations
Instead of relying on auditory cues, the Deaf and hard of hearing rely on visual or tactile alerts to direct their attention. Many members of the Deaf community use alerting devices, sometimes called notification devices or signalers, that use vibration or flashing lights to let the user know that there is something or someone that requires their attention.
These can include a baby cry monitor that notifies you when your baby makes noise, doorbell signalers that vibrate to notify you of guests at the door, telephone signalers that will flash lights when the phone rings, and wake-up alarms that use a combination of flashing strobe lights and vibration to make sure that you wake up on time.
If you need to get the attention of a Deaf person, simply flash the lights once or twice, if it is safe to do so, to catch their attention. This method works particularly well when there is a group of people who are Deaf or hard of hearing since it naturally and immediately draws attention to where the light switch is located at. Please do not flash the lights on and off repeatedly like a strobe light as this can be extremely annoying.
Although bright flashing lights can be annoying since they can draw all the attention from the room, that is exactly what you need during an emergency. When there is an emergency situation such as a fire, flashing strobe lights are effective in visually alarming building occupants to a fire, lighting up evacuation routes, and indicating where emergency exits are located.
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Tapping and Touch-Based Methods
Utilizing tapping and other touch-based methods to get the attention of the Deaf and hard of hearing can be effective but there are some things to keep in mind to make sure that you are engaging in a considerate and polite manner.
Gentle taps on the shoulder, arm, or wrist are usually a great way to catch the attention of someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing without being too intrusive. This is a great way to catch someone’s attention while respecting their personal space and comfort zone. Make sure to keep these touches respectful and light to keep it a polite way to spark up a conversation or pass on a bit of important information.
You can also touch their shoulder and hold it briefly to grab their attention. This method is used when there is a sense of urgency or you have an important message for them but is considered to be just a little more invasive than a gentle tap. Use this when you have a message for the Deaf person that is time-sensitive.
Related: Why Do Deaf People Communicate Differently from Hearing People?
Things to Avoid When Using Tapping or Touch-Based Methods
Do not use any methods that are intrusive or rude to catch the attention of the Deaf or hard of hearing. It is considered incredibly rude to poke, roughly grab, or throw items at a Deaf person to get their attention. When you are using tapping or other touch-based methods to get the attention of a Deaf person, make sure that you do not slap or otherwise roughly handle them.
After you get their attention, make sure to use the Bridg’d mobile app to make sure that you can effectively communicate with them. Take a look at how Bridg’d can help here.
Use of Sign Language and Hand Gestures
The use of hand gestures and sign language provides a way for people to communicate and express themselves without having to make a sound. The most common way that is used to catch the attention of the Deaf and hard of hearing is to wave your hand in their line of sight. This method is not invasive and gives a great deal of space and respect to their personal boundaries.
If you are trying to get the attention of a member of the Deaf community while they are reading a book or looking at their phone, make sure you do not obstruct their field of vision as that can be considered extremely rude.
Sign language is a surefire way to get the attention of someone who also uses sign language. Using your hand to tap your shoulder is a way to communicate in sign language that you need to talk to them. This is a universal way to say “Hey, I want to get your attention, please”.
It is also important to know and understand a few universal hand gestures that you may encounter when you are trying to grab the attention of someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing. If you try one of the methods we discussed to catch the attention of a Deaf person, you might receive a raised hand or finger pointing up in response. A raised hand with the palm facing you can mean that they are asking for your attention or for you to wait while a finger pointing upwards can mean that they need you to wait a moment before they can give you their full attention.
Related: Is Deafness a Disability? Understanding Deaf Culture and Identity
